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Call for papers - Robotic and minimally invasive spine surgery: emerging innovations and contemporary outcomes

Guest Editors:
Ahmad Ozair, MD, Johns Hopkins University, USA

Submission Status: Open   |   Submission Deadline: 28 November 2024

BMC Surgery is calling for submissions to our Collection Robotic and minimally invasive spine surgery: emerging innovations and contemporary outcomes, dedicated to the advancements and innovations in the field. The primary aim of the topical collection is to provide a comprehensive platform for the dissemination of cutting-edge research and clinical insights related to robotic and minimally invasive spine surgery. We invite original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical trials, translational work, narrative reviews and novel operative techniques, from surgeons and other healthcare professionals to contribute to this rapidly evolving discipline.


New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Meet the Guest Editors

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Ahmad Ozair, MD, Johns Hopkins University, USA

Ahmad Ozair, MD, is a neurosurgery researcher based at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JH-BSPH). He holds the prestigious Sommer Scholarship, JH-BSPH's flagship scholarship, a recognition awarded to only 14 individuals globally. Dr. Ozair graduated as the top student from one of India's leading medical schools.His extensive research contributions are evidenced by over 60 peer-reviewed papers in the field of clinical outcomes, garnering more than 1000 citations. Dr. Ozair is an active member of the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee of the North American Spine Society (NASS). Additionally, he has been honored with the AANS/CNS Mahaley-Rosenblum Clinical Research Award and the Clarendon Scholarship from the University of Oxford.

About the Collection

BMC Surgery is calling for submissions to our Collection Robotic and minimally invasive spine surgery: emerging innovations and contemporary outcomes, dedicated to the advancements and innovations in the field. The primary aim of the topical collection is to provide a comprehensive platform for the dissemination of cutting-edge research and clinical insights related to robotic and minimally invasive spine surgery. We invite contributions from surgeons, researchers, patient safety and quality advocates, and other healthcare professionals to contribute to this rapidly evolving discipline. The collection seeks to address a broad spectrum of topics, including but not limited to:
Robotic spinal procedures: application of robotic technologies in spine surgery, particularly its functional outcomes

  1. Minimally invasive techniques: novel minimally invasive approaches, instruments, and methodologies for spine surgery
  2. Outcome measures: research investigating patient-reported outcomes, quality of life, and long-term follow-up data for patients undergoing robotic and minimally invasive spine surgeries.
  3. Innovation: emerging technologies, software, and hardware developments that are shaping the future of spinal surgery, including research evaluating comparison of different robotic platforms.
  4. Education and Training: contributions related to training programs, simulation tools, and educational strategies for healthcare providers to master the learning curve required for robotic spine and minimally invasive spine surgeries.
  5. Innovative approaches: innovative applications in robotic spine surgery, including AI, Machine Learning (ML), Augmented Reality (AR), and Deep Learning techniques, alongside the development and utilization of new, previously unreported devices for minimally invasive procedures.
  6. Biomechanical studies: studies focusing on the dynamics of the spine before and after minimally invasive and robotic surgeries.
  7. Patient-centered care: research focusing on patient selection criteria, shared decision-making, and the role of patient preferences in choosing surgical approaches.
  8. Quality, patient safety, and value-based care: studies exploring minimally invasive and robotic spine surgery's value, cost-effectiveness, safety, and/or quality.

While all contributions related to minimally invasive and robotic spine surgery are welcome, we are particularly interested in articles that investigate (A) Integrating AI and Machine Learning (ML) with robotic spine surgery for personalized surgical planning, (B) Integrating Augmented Reality (AR) with robotic or minimally invasive spine surgery, and (C) Use of deep learning and convolutional neural networks for prediction of surgical outcomes. 


Image credit: Danish Khan / stock.adobe.com

  1. With the continuous advancements in precision medicine and the relentless pursuit of minimally invasive techniques, Natural Orifice Specimen Extraction Surgery (NOSES) has emerged. Compared to traditional surg...

    Authors: Huiming Wu, Dingwen Xue, Min Deng, Renkai Guo and Huiyu Li
    Citation: BMC Surgery 2024 24:255
    Content type: Review Published on:

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Robotic and minimally invasive spine surgery: emerging innovations and contemporary outcomes" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.